Bavarian Crochet in Rows

Some time ago, I happened across a style of crochet I had never heard of before called Bavarian crochet. Legend has it that a mother and daughter of Bavarian descent created it, but no one knows for sure. In any case, it is a lovely textured stitch pattern.

Our example shows it worked in rows, but traditionally it is worked in the round. The resulting fabric is textured and thick, yet still drapes really well. It's perfect for all your fall projects!

I'm going to spend the next two weeks focusing on this unique stitch so we can go over how to work it in rows and how to work it in rounds. Today's lesson is Bavarian crochet in rows. Next week we'll cover Bavarian crochet in the round.

Bavarian Crochet in Rows

Special Stitches:

4-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 4 stitches, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the fourth fptr, yo and pull through all 5 loops on the hook. 4-fptr cluster is complete.

5-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 5 stitches, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the fifth fptr, yo and pull through all 6 loops on the hook. 5-fptr cluster is complete.

9-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 9 stitches, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the ninth fptr, yo and pull through all 10 loops on the hook. 9-fptr cluster is complete.

Beg Ch: Multiple of 10 + 2.

Row 1. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip 4 ch, 9 tr in the next ch, skip 4 ch, hdc in the next ch, rep from * across.

Change colors if desired.

Row 2. Ch 3; turn. 4-fptr cluster over next 4 tr, ch 4, fphdc over next tr, *ch 4, 9-fptr cluster over next (4 tr, hdc, and 4 tr), ch 4, fphdc over next hdc; rep from * once. Ch 4, 5-fptr cluster over next 5 tr.

Row 3. Ch 4; turn. 4 tr in top of first cluster, hdc in the next hdc, *9 tr in center of next cluster, hdc in next hdc; rep from * once. 5 tr in top of last cluster.

Change colors if desired.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Fphdc over first tr, *ch 4, 9-fptr cluster over next (4 tr, hdc, and 4 tr), ch 4, fphdc over next hdc; rep from * across.

Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Hdc in first hdc, *9 tr in center of first cluster, hdc in next hdc; rep from * across.

Change colors if desired.

Rep rows 2-5, changing colors after each odd row if desired.

Abbreviations
beg          beginning
ch          chain
ea          each
fphdc          front-post half-double crochet
fptr          front-post treble crochet
hdc          half-double crochet
rep          repeat
tr          treble crochet
yo          yarn over